CLARION “GOLDEN EAGLES” AT SLIPPERY ROCK “THE ROCK”

PSAC-WEST MEN’S GAME INFORMATION

DATE: Jan. 26, 2005              LOCATION: Morrow Field House, Slippery Rock, Pa.          TIME: 8 p.m.

CLARION RADIO/INTERNET: WCUC-FM 91.7 in Clarion & www.redzonemedia.com

CLARION RECORD: 11-5, 1-1 PSAC-West                      SRU RECORD: 3-15, 1-1

CLARION LAST GAME: W 83-57 -Lock Haven                SRU LAST GAME: W 69-68 - Lock Haven

NEXT FOR CLARION: vs. California Jan. 29                       NEXT FOR SRU: at Shippensburg Jan. 29

GOLDEN EAGLES LOOKING TO IMPROVE ON THE ROAD

·            Clarion is looking for some improvement on the road when it faces The Rock … The Golden Eagles are just 4-5 away from Tippin Gym this season and 5-9 in their last 14 contests away from Clarion dating back to midway through last season … But Clarion has had success on the road in the recent past going 15-8 in its previous 23 road games before the recent slip.  

CLARKE & WELLS FORM FORMIDABLE INSIDE COMBINATION

·            The Golden Eagles are usually known for their guard play, but this year two forwards are helping to lead the way. Senior Ryan Wells (6-2, 205) and junior Michael Clarke (6-5, 240) are combining to average 31.7 ppg and 16.6 rpg this season …Wells is the leading scorer for Clarion at 16.7 ppg and is tied with Clarke with 8.3 rpg …Clarke is second on the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg … Both player have come up with huge games this year … Clarke is coming off a 26-point, 16-rebound effort in the win over Lock Haven last Wednesday with the 16 boards being a career high … He has scored 15 or more points in 10 of Clarion’s 16 games and has gone double digits in rebounds in five contests … Wells’ top performances include a 35-points, 8-rebound effort in a win at Mansfield Jan. 15 and an 18-point, 19-rebound game in a win over Kutztown Jan. 8 … Wells has nine games of 15 or more points and 4 contests of 10 or more rebounds.  

CLARION BOSS RIGHTER PREDICTS TIGHT GAME

·            Clarion head coach Ron Righter believes the game will be a usual Clarion-Slippery Rock game and will be a tight contest.

·            "You can throw the records out in a game like this,” Righter said. “This is a natural rivalry, and all our games seem to come down to the last couple of minutes. Their record is very deceiving. They beat Kutztown, which was ranked both nationally and regionally, and they have played one of the toughest schedules in the region. Ten of their first 11 games were on the road. It was a very difficult schedule. Add that to the fact they have a very good inside-outside combination in Glenn Reepmeyer (13.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Bill Johnson (17.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and this should be a very good game.”

CLARION-SLIPPERY ROCK SERIES

·            The Golden Eagles are 24-9 against Slippery Rock under Righter (see attachment), although the teams have split the last four games with each team winning on the other’s home court last season … Slippery Rock won 60-59 at Clarion Feb. 18, and Clarion won 64-58 at SRU Jan. 21  … Slippery Rock’s 69-62 win Feb. 19, 2003, broke a 19-game regular-season losing streak to the Golden Eagles, although The Rock did beat Clarion 73-54 in the first round of the PSAC Playoffs Feb. 29, 2000 … Clarion is 11-5 under Righter at Slippery Rock.

·            Despite Clarion’s success in the series, the games have been close with 12 decided by 7 points or less and seven by 4 points or less.